riddle

1 of 4

noun (1)

rid·​dle ˈri-dᵊl 

1

: a mystifying, misleading, or puzzling question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed : conundrum, enigma

2

: something or someone difficult to understand

riddle

2 of 4

verb (1)

riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ 

ˈri-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to speak in or propound riddles

transitive verb

1

: to find the solution of : explain

2

: to set a riddle for : puzzle

riddler

ˈrid-lər 

ˈri-dᵊl-ər

noun

riddle

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a coarse sieve

riddle

4 of 4

verb (2)

riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ 

ˈri-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to separate (something, such as grain from chaff) with a riddle : screen

2

: to pierce with many holes

riddled the car with bullets

3

: to spread through : permeate

a book riddled with errors

Did you know?

Riddle Me This

Riddle comes from an Old English word meaning "opinion" or "conjecture" that is related to a verb meaning "to interpret."

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• closed book
• conundrum
• enigma
• head-scratcher
• mystery
• mystification
• puzzle
• puzzlement
• secret
• why

Verb (2)

• bore
• drill
• hole
• perforate
• pierce
• punch
• puncture

Choose the Right Synonym for riddle

mystery, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle mean something which baffles or perplexes.

mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.

the mystery of the stone monoliths

problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.

problems created by high technology

enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.

his suicide remains an enigma

riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.

the riddle of the reclusive pop star

puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.

the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police

Examples of riddle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The actual three-body problem is a riddle of physics, which can’t consistently predict the motion of three masses in each other’s orbit, whether molecules or planets. —Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024

The past eight days did nothing to solve the riddle of what comes next for WSU and OSU. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024

What’s wonderful about Volcano is that Murphy’s background — and immense skill — as a dancer suffuses the piece with a distinctive, high-voltage theatricality that is, at least for me, more richly ambiguous and more compelling than the riddle of the plot. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024

All these little riddles funnel into the big one: In rap music, words perpetually become sounds in ways that can defy their meanings. —Chris Richards, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

So this was the riddle: Einstein's Riddle There are 5 houses in five different colors. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

It’s said this riddle was created by Albert Einstein—hence the name. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

By then the man had disappeared into the landscape, like the last line of a riddle. —Molly Langmuir, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2024

Thus, a story about puzzles begins with something of a riddle: What do military rifle stocks, American flags and jigsaw puzzles have in common? —David Frese, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024

Verb

When Covington police arrived at the shooting scene on Russell Street, Lopez was already dead behind the wheel and his vehicle was riddled with bullets, according to a criminal complaint. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024

Dayspring is one of Cable’s names in the X-Men comics, and Cable is also riddled with imagery of Christ. —Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024

Your Ultimate 2024 Leo Horoscope, as Predicted by a Celebrity Astrologer Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Your past has been riddled with intensity, passion, loss and moments of bliss, Capricorn. —Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024

According to Jovani, the way of dress is riddled with aristocratic and military-inspired details. —Shelby Ying Hyde, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024

In 1992, despite an earlier Senate report finding the student loan program riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse, Congress reauthorized HEA, making new, unsubsidized student loans available to any student regardless of financial need. —Brian Curcio, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

But after nearly 160 years of drilling and extraction, the state is riddled with over 100,000 unplugged wells. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024

Though significantly improved, the ads system today is still riddled with outdated, erroneous, and limited options. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024

Don’t Google Easter Eggs… The game is riddled with hidden details and secret paths — some, in fact, remain undiscovered to this day. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English redels, ridel, from Old English rǣdelse opinion, conjecture, riddle; akin to Old English rǣdan to interpret — more at read

Noun (2)

Middle English ridel, going back to Old English hriddel (attested once), alteration (by dissimilation or suffix substitution) of hridder, hrīder, going back to Germanic *hrīdra- (whence also Old Saxon hrīdra "sieve," Old High German rītera), going back to Indo-European *krei̯(h₁)̯-dhro- or *krei̯(h₁)̯-tro- (whence Latin crībrum "sieve," Old Irish críathar, Old Welsh cruitr "winnowing fan"), from *krei̯(h₁)- "sift, separate" + *-dhro-, *-tro-, suffixes of instrument — more at certain entry 1

Note: See note at acetabulum.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1571, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

riddle

1 of 4 noun

rid·​dle ˈrid-ᵊl 

1

: a baffling, misleading, or puzzling question presented as a problem to be solved or guessed : conundrum

2

: something or someone difficult to understand

riddle

2 of 4 verb

riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to find the answer for a riddle or mystery

2

: to create a riddle for : mystify

3

: to speak in riddles

riddler

-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun

riddle

3 of 4 noun

: a coarse sieve

riddle

4 of 4 verb

riddled; riddling ˈrid-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to sift or separate with or as if with a riddle

2

a

: to pierce with many holes

riddled the car with bullets

b

: to spread through

a book riddled with mistakes

Etymology

Noun

Old English rǣdelse "opinion, riddle"

Noun

Old English hriddel "a coarse sieve"